The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-11-05

nature, and giving the citadels of his
soul into the mastery of that which is
good, beautiful and heroic. He who
performs heroic acts, is no greater hero
than he who incites others to heroism.
Who knows when to give the word that
shall touch the heart, and thrill the
soul, and turn mems feet aside from
pitfalls, and draw them into holy paths?
Such, though unknown, are heroes.
One man sits in high place, courted
and honored his name on every tongue;
another seeks the by-ways of life;
gives word of cheer to the discour-
aged, melts the hardened heart to re-
pentance, gives cup of water to the
thirsty, clothes the naked, feeds the
hungry, and everywhere his footseteps
have passed, springs up awakened in
telligence, and those who have forgot
ten to pray, and those who have never
known prayer cry out, Lord, Lord,
forgive.n AT last he passes the way Of
all earth, ''unhonored and unsung,"
save in few hearts worthy to know
him but the seed that he has sOwn is
perennial and ever blooming, sanctify-
ing unholy places, and giving JOY and
peace to those who inhale its healing
perfume. The one receives his just
reward while of the earth-the other
not until he has entered the holy gates
that lead to the celestial city where God
himself sits enthroned, dispensing love,
justice and mercy at one breath who
reads mems hearts and Sits the wheat
from the chaff; whose judgments are
infallible and all-merciful who not
only weighs mems deeds, but the cir
cumstances of life, who no more ex-
poets man with grievous burdens upon
him to rise, than he expects bird with
broken wing to fly and the bird that
cleaves the SKY with glad wings, is no
more precious to him than the poor
creature that lies manned and helpless
upon the earth.
The beggar is as dear in his sight.
as the one who spurns him from his
door; although one is clothed in fine
raiment and wears badges of earthly
honOrs, whilst the other has only his
rags, his sins, his wrongs, his woes to
appeal for him, and in spite of the ap-
parent difference between these two
men, God reaching their hearts may
find the beggar's the more heroic.
A Napoleon can put aside the ties of
love and trample alike on the heart of
friend or foe, if he stands in the path
that leads to victory. A Palssay can
offer his innocent children as sacrifice
on the altar of selfish ambitions but
greater than they, are those who feel
the fire of genius burning within their
souls, and who put aside this "sweet
Lutte beside their hand" for duty's
sake; and plow and SOW, build fires,
tend babes, and sit beside the family
hearth in sweet content. And verify
they have their reward, for Gods sweet
peace is with them night and day;
their burdens are light, and their sleep
untTOubled.
The God-power is stronger within
us to do noble things, and what is no
bier than to do with patience and fdel-
ity, day by day, that which life has
intrusted to us and he who is recreant
to such trust can never be a hero,
though a thousand voices proclaim him
so. But he, who never fOrgets his du-
ties through heat, through cold, through
good or i'll report, through gratitude or
ingratitude, is hero aud God, if not
man, accords him so. Heroes are they
who bear reproach and calumny for
righteousness sake; who yield up their
lives to emancipate future generations,
and who die with smiles upon their
faces.
To-day a glorious edilice is completed,
many hands of many ages have wrought
upon it; many have spent their life
force upon it-and the name Of the one,
who conceived the noble plan who
amidst scoffs and prosecutions laid its
corner stones, and who gave his hearts
blood for il, is forgotten.
To-day by a master stroke the incom-
parably beautiful structure is finished.
The superstition Of the past, like a
gloomy garment has fallen away from
it, and it stands in the light a hope, a
blessing, a 10y to all.
But to whom shall the glory be given
The world crowns the hero OF to-day
who stands like a god. a smile of tri-
umph wreathjng his lips But there
may have been an unseen presence
lowering near, who grieyed not that his
was not the name that passed from lip
to lip, but rejoiced with exceeding Joy
at the consummation of his life's pur-
pose, for heroism and self-abnegation
are synonymous. Caesar crowned and
clothed in royal purple, with his foot
on the neck of the world, had reached
the pinnacle of earthly glory but how
compared he in all his pOmp and mag
nilicenee, with the one who was born
in manger, and who nailed to the